Car-coupling



(No Model.) G, P. HOEFFER' GAR COUPLING. No. 260,295. Patented June 7, 1882.

I v immtron:

i/Z' .eiw fm r I w 5; v I BY I I ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS. Phob-Lilhompiwr, Wahlflgtom n, C.

UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE.

GEORGE F. HOEFFER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS;

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 260,295, dated June 27, 1882. I

Application filed May 11, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. HOEFFER, of Ghicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Oar-Coupling, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention consists in a draw-head divided by a vertical longitudinal partition into two compartments, one of which contains a sliding plunger pressed outward by a spring, and the other compartment having its outer side formed of a swinginglatch-wing provided at its free end with a slot, into or thropgh which a stud on the side of the other drawhead passes when the cars are coupled. A lever pivoted on the top of the draw-head is connected with the sliding plunger, and is provided with adownwardly-projectin gstud or rod, which passes through a slot into the drawhead, and is used to push back the plunger of the opposite draw-head.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

- in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 shows the longitudinal elevations of two of my improved car-couplings. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of one of the draw-heads. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional elevation of the same on the line a" m, Fig. 3.

The draw-head A is divided by a longitudinal vertical partition, 13, into two compartments, 0 G, of which the compartment 0 contains a longitudinally-slidin g plunger-bar, D, which has its outer-projectin g end tapered and rounded off.

A spring, E, is interposed between the rear end of the plunger D and the rear end of the compartment (J, which spring presses this plunger-bar outward.

A latch-wing, F, is pivoted in the outer side of the compartment 0, near the outer end of the same, in suoha manner that this latch wing rests on its edge and swings in the horizontal plane.

The latch-wing F is provided at its outer end with a vertical slot, F, which may be slightly curved, if desired, and against the outer surface of the inner end of the latchwingF asprin g, G, is pressed,which is attached (No model.)

to the draw-head, which spring G throws the latch-wing F from the side of the draw-head in the inverse direction of the arrow at, as shown in Fig. 3.

A stud, H, projects. from the outer side of the compartments 0 at the front end of the same, on which stud the latch-wing F of the opposite draw-head is adapted to catch.

A transverse lever, J, is pivoted on the top of the draw-head with a longitudinal slot, K, through which a screw or stud, L, passes into the plunger D, this screw or stud also passing through a longitudinal slot, M, in the top of the draw-head.

A stud or rod, N, projects down from the lever J through a longitudinal slot, 0, in the top of the compartment 0 into this compartment.

The levers J reach almost to the sides of the car. Chains P, attached to these levers, are attached to vertical shafts Q, journaled on the ends of the cars and provided with handwheels R or equivalent devices. The drawheads are pivoted to the car-frame, and have springs S, for holding them in place attached to each side and to the car-frame. The partition B does not extend to the outer end of the draw-head, so that a link can beinserted in the draw-head and can be held by a pin passed through an aperture, T, in the draw-head. The draw-heads may be rigidly fastened to the draw-bar, the springs 6 dispensed with, and the usual buffer-springs provided.

The operation is as follows: The plungers D project from the ends of the compartment (J, and the levers pass across the draw-heads at an angle to the longitudinal axis. It the drawheads come together, the plungerD of one drawhead A passes into the compartment 0 of the other or opposite draw head, and strikes against the inner end of the pivoted latch-wing F, and presses this inner end outward, thereby swinging the outer end in the direction of the arrow at against the side of the other drawhead, so that the stud H passes into the slot F. As each drawhead is provided with a plunger and a latch-wing, the draw-heads will "be coupled at both sides, as shown in Fig. 2,

the slots F permitting of vertical movements of the draw-heads. If the cars are to be uncoupled, one of the levers J is moved in the direction of the arrow 1), whereby the plunger D of the draw-head on which this lever J is pivoted will be drawn inwardthat is, into the compartment 0. At the same time the stud or rod N pushes the plunger D of the other draw-head out of the compartment 0 of the draw-head on which the operated lever J is pivoted; but by this movement of the plunger, forced outward by the stud or rod N, the other lever, J, will also be operated-that is, both plungers D are withdrawn from the compartments O of the opposite draw-heads, and as the studs or rods N also move towardthc outer ends of the compartments 0 the springs G can swing the latch-wings F from the sides of the opposite draw-heads, whereby the drawheads will be disengaged from each other and the cars will be uncoupled.

The advantages of my invention are- First. That the coupler is adapted for both passenger and freight ears.

Second. That the coupler is always ready for coupling. The spring E holds projected the plunger D, and the spring G keeps open the latch-wing F when the coupler is disengaged. Shove the cars together and the coupling is effected.

Third. That the coupler can be uncoupled by simply operating either lever at either side of the car or the rod Q and chain P from the platform of the passenger-coach or the roof of the freight-car, thereby rendering it unnecessary for the operator to go in between the cars for that purpose.

Fourth. That the coupler will couple cars of different heights. The plunger D, whose sole duty is to swing thelatch-wingF into position and to keep it there, being tapered, as shown in the drawings, is thereby enabled to enter the opposite draw-head, although the latter may not be on a horizontal plane with the plungers own draw-head, while the latch-wing F, having a long segmental slot, F. is thereby enabled to close therein the stud II of the opposite elevated or depressed draw-head.

Fifth. That the couplers effect a double coupling by coupling with theirlatch-wings on both sides of the draw-head.

Sixth. In that the springs S not only keep the pivoted draw-head in position ready for coupling, but also permitan easy swaying motion of the couplers, conforming to the motion of the train when rounding curves, thereby preventing the disengagement or breakage ot' the couplers.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A car coupling made substantially as herein shown and described, audconsistiug of a d raw-head divided into twolongitudinal compartments, and provided with a plunger and a pivoted latch-wing adapted to catch on the opposite draw-head, as set forth.

2. In a car coupling, the combination, with the draw-head A, of the plunger D, the swinging latch-wing F, and the spring G, acting on the same, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head A, of the plunger D, the spring E, the swinging latch-wing F, and the spring G, acting on the same, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head A, of the plunger D, the swinging latch-wing F, provided with a slot, F, at the outer end, and the spring G, acting on the latch-wing F, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

.3. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head A, of the plunger D, the swinging latch-wingl and the leverJ, pivoted on the top of the draw-head and connected with the plunger 1), substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a ear-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head A, of the plunger D, the swinging latch-wing F, the lever J, pivoted on the draw-head and provided with a slot, K, and the screw or stud L, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a ear-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head A, provided with slots M and O in its top,ot' theplungerD,theswinginglatchwing F, the lever J, pivoted on the draw-head, the stud or screw L, passed through thelcver J into the plunger 1), and the stud or rod N, passed through the lever J into the draw-head, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head A, of the plunger D, the swinging latch-wing F, the lever J, for withdrawing the plungers, the chain P, and the vertical shaft on the car, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

GEORGE F. HOEFFER.

Witnesses:

LINUS 0. Burn, EDGAR J. ANTHONY. 

